SAN FRANCISCO — Amid a rise to superstardom, Drake Maye hasn’t forgotten to show gratitude to the values he holds dear.
The Patriots quarterback has been quietly donating scholarships to Folds of Honor, a charity whose mission is to help the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military members and first responders.
Since his rookie season, Maye has been donating seven college scholarships a year with corporate partner Betterment. One scholarship is for each of the six New England states, and then another for his alma mater, the University of North Carolina.
“Honoring military families isn’t a new thing for him,” said Sara Bush, a senior director at Folds of Honor. “It’s part of his family’s story. He understands things such as freedom isn’t free. The neat thing about Drake is he didn’t wait until later in his career to act on that belief.”
Maye was motivated to get involved because his maternal grandfather, Ed Sockwell served in the U.S. Navy.
“It seems that even though his career is growing so quickly and he’s so recognized, he takes the time to stop and make sure that his past isn’t forgotten,” Bush said.
Over the course of two seasons, Maye has now donated 14 scholarships. One of the recipients has been Adam Laber, a lacrosse player and accounting major at Salve Regina in Rhode Island.
“My father, Lt. Commander Jason Laber, served our country in the US Navy. Because of his service, I was fortunate enough to qualify for the Folds of Honor scholarship,” Laber said via email. “Drake’s support of Folds of Honor means a great deal to my family and me. It is meaningful to know that the sacrifices of military families are truly recognized and honored. After graduation, I’ll be working in Boston as an accountant and this scholarship has been an important part of helping me get there.”
Another recipient was Madelyn Coble, a UNC student, pursuing a degree in neuroscience. She recorded a video for Maye thanking him for the difference Folds of Honor has made in her life.
“My father was a Marine for 22 years and was unfortunately disabled in the line of duty. However, funds from the Folds of Honor were what allowed me to prosper during my time at UNC and fully explore everything,” Coble said in the video. “I was really excited that (Maye provides) funds for people like me and other Tar Heels at UNC. It just goes to show that our families are seen and feel supported during the difficult times that we experience in order to serve this country.”
For Bush, it’s been surreal to watch one of the program’s ambassadors blossom into an MVP candidate. She can’t wait to see him in action on Super Bowl Sunday.
“There’s so many different types of people in the world,” Bush said. “There are ones that maybe want to step way out front and say, ‘Look at me, this is what I’m doing.’ The ones that I think are more lasting with the legacy they build are the ones that aren’t loud. They are those quiet leaders that do the right thing when no one is watching.
“And to me, that’s exactly what Drake Maye has done. And the fact that now he has this incredible platform. I mean, he’s playing in the biggest game of the year in one of the biggest sports in the world and here he is: When no one’s watching, doing the next right thing, and we are humbled to have his support.”
